President Donald Trump has signed a resolution from Montana’s federal delegation, overturning Biden-era coal extraction restrictions across eastern Montana. This decision aligns with Montana’s goals to strengthen its mining and energy sectors. However, coal demand continues declining, impacting Montana’s production.
House Joint Resolution 104, led by Rep. Troy Downing and cosponsored by Rep. Ryan Zinke, passed Congress with near-partisan votes. Only one Republican opposed it alongside Democrats. Montana’s U.S. Senators, Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, introduced the identical Senate Joint Resolution 61.
Downing stated, “Now more than ever, America needs affordable, reliable energy to fuel our new golden age.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining American energy independence by rolling back these coal leasing restrictions.
The law is part of several bills signed by the president, reversing resource management plans on public lands in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Alaska. In Montana, it overturns a 2024 rule from the Bureau of Land Management affecting the Powder River Basin, the largest U.S. coal-producing area.
The 2024 rule aimed to restrict 1,745,040 acres of BLM-administered coal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Montana leaders argued it would cut vital coal tax revenue supporting public schools and infrastructure, while stifling the national energy industry. Last year, Montana and Wyoming sued the federal government over the coal leasing ban. Gov. Greg Gianforte praised Trump for defending coal-based power, claiming it opens up nearly $4 billion in coal tax revenue for the state.
Supply versus demand
Despite government support to boost coal mining, demand for coal is falling. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts U.S. coal production will drop from 610 million tons in 2022 to 450 million tons by 2040. Western U.S. production is expected to decrease from 335 million tons to 224 million tons during the same period. Montana’s largest coal mines have seen a one-third production decline since 2002.
In October, the federal government rejected a bid for a new coal lease in Montana’s Powder River Basin. The sole bid from the Navajo Transitional Energy Company offered just $186,000, below BLM’s fair market value estimate. A subsequent Wyoming sale was postponed due to low demand.
Conservation groups criticize the reversal of environmental protections and lack of local stakeholder input, asserting it undermines science-based management plans. Alison Flint from The Wilderness Society commented on the need for cleaner public lands management.
Republicans in Congress and Montana celebrate the resolution’s passage. Daines stated, “Now, thanks to the hard work of our Montana delegation, Biden’s rule is repealed, and Montana energy is back.” Sheehy added that the resolution will foster American energy dominance, create jobs, and make energy more affordable and reliable.
Zinke believes the legislation will lower energy costs and secure mining jobs in Montana, labeling it a success in making energy more affordable for families.
